Chapter 280
“What the hell…” I utter as we roll in through the gates and wind our way toward the Council Hall.
It’s utter chaos.
There are dead Enforcer wolves sca tered throughout the parking lot, leading all the way up to the main doors of the
Council Hall.
People are fleeing from the Council Hall-mostly the admin and support staff I note-they all look scared out of their minds, and some of them are spattered in blood.
I drive the SUV all the way up to the doors and pull up with a
screech of tires.
As soon as I jump out of the SUV, I grab one of the admin. wolves and pull them to a stop.
“What the hell is happening?” I demand.
“It’s one of the Old Country Wolves,” he says, eyes wide and
glazed with shock and fear. “He’s gone rogue. His pack is slaug tering the Councilmembers.”
“Fck,” I exclaim, watching the battles as they unfold. The Enforcers and Councilmembers are fighting back, but many are old, and it’s clear the Old Country wolves have the upper hand.
I turn around to see James and Leah standing behind me, both looking alarmed but determined, obviously having heard what the admin guy said.
“Ryker,” I say anyway, getting a nod from both of them. “We have to stop him. He dies. His pack stands down.”
Although, I wonder, will they?
There is an honor among them that is as deadly as it is
admirable.
As for the Council and other packs… Sure, some of the Council -the ones who had that fanatical plan to wipe out humans. and some packs they deemed undesirable-probably deserve
to be executed.
It’s no less than what they were going to do to me.
But I wouldn’t stand by and watch as my species was
annihilated. The Council wasn’t perfect, but it served its purpose. Up until recent times, I’d even say it allowed our packs to thrive, to move beyond the wars that had ravaged
our kind for centuries.
Before there’s no Council left.
If it’s not already too late.
I glance at Leah.
The protective Alpha streak in me wants to tell her to stay behind, to stay safe and not put herself in the line of fire so we can ensure she goes home to Ethan.
But I’ve personally overseen Leah’s training since she was thirteen. And now, she wears her weapons with the ease of someone who knows how to use them and is willing to do so.
Rogue wolves are powerful and unpredictable, but I’m stronger. I can kill Ryker, though I’m not sure I want to. He’s a wolf who was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice-killing his own mate-for the greater good of our species.
I understand him wanting to cleanse the Council of its corruption.
But that doesn’t mean I can stand by while he indiscriminately murders everyone.
We head into the Council Hall and then basically follow the tide of escaping people, as well as the sounds of screams and cries echoing from deeper in the building.
of C
Imembers in the corridors,
including Samsen and Petyr, and I can’t say I’m too sorry about that. James launches at two of Rkyer’s packmates. I keep pressing forward.
Eventually we reach a conference room when Ryker-who is covered in blood-has the last of the Councilmembers trapped, including Eleanor.
They’re all lower-ranking Councilmembers and I know most of them are good, honorable wolves. It’s doubtful any of them were involved with Tobin and Karolina’s schemes.
“Ryker!” I shout, drawing his attention.
He’s partially shifted, and even though I expected to find him completely rogue and out of control, there’s a surprising amount of calculation and sanity in his gaze as he swings around to look at me.
“You shouldn’t have come here, Aaron,” Ryker snarls. “This doesn’t concern you.”
I let my claws and fangs emerge. “Actually, Ryker, I think it does concern me. This travesty ends now.”
Ryker laughs. “It’s already done, Aaron. No one can stop me.”
B
ple
er me. “We’ll see about that.”
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